BC Ferries Queen of Surrey had an incident while docking at Langdale this morning at approximately 8:10 am; no injuries have been reported.
Kyle Palen, a former Powell River resident travelling back to Powell River, said that prior to the collision, a voice came over the ferry’s public address system saying “brace, brace.”
“It was a good jolt, for sure,” said Palen, who was in his vehicle at the time of the collision. There was no sense of panic aboard the vessel after the collision, he added.
Palen is unsure how long he will be aboard Queen of Surrey. He said he was advised that BC Ferries is awaiting the arrival of a tugboat to assist.
According to Deborah Marshall, BC Ferries executive director of public affairs, the ship came into contact with the berthing structure at Langdale and is caught on a pontoon.
“We are currently assessing the ship and dock,” said Marshall.
A tugboat has been called to assist and should arrive at 11 am.
“Service is temporarily suspended between Horseshoe Bay and Langdale until further notice,” said Marshall.
The vessel is currently resting on the edge of a fender panel on the pontoon.
Options for travel between Horseshoe Bay and Langdale today include:
• Water taxi service for foot passengers will be in operation today between the government dock at Horseshoe Bay and Gibsons Landing and from the government dock at Horseshoe Bay and Hopkins Landing. Both are non-reservable and based on space availability
• Customers wanting to travel with their vehicles can travel via Earls Cove and Saltery Bay, Powell River and Comox, and Departure Bay and Horseshoe Bay or Duke Point and Tsawwassen
• Evening service between Horseshoe Bay and Langdale will be provided by Queen of Cowichan with limited vehicle capacity as follows: 5:30 pm and 7:50 pm exit Horseshoe Bay, 6:40 pm and 8:55 pm exit Langdale
In a media release, BC Ferries stated that it apologizes for the inconvenience this temporary service interruption may cause its customers.
